Dry cleaning apparatus



A! Kluge Sept. 21, 1954 M. KACHUCK 2,689,413 DRY CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 5, 1953 60 56 WK m 24 6 00 00 52 55 f o on 000 I as 000 000 I I 22 I r -46 42 I -/2- sag/M 7 2 40 FIG. 3

'FIGJ- MIKE KACHUCK INVENTOR.

Patented Sept. 21, 1 954 DRY CLEANING APPARATUS Mike Kachuck, Torrance, Calif.

Application January 5, 1953, Serial No. 329,500

1 Claim.

The present invention relates generally to dry cleaning apparatus, and more particularly to an improved form of dry cleaning apparatus incorporating a reclaiming system for its textile cleaning agent.

Modernly, dry cleaning of textiles is generally carried out by means of deviceshaving a textileholding cylinder, which cylinder is rotated within an airtight housing containing a suitable volatile detergent, such as perchlorethylene, trichlorenthylene, gasolene or the like. During rotation of the textile-holding cylinder, the detergent is caused to circulate through the cylinder and the contents thereof, whereby the latter becomes thoroughly saturated. Such rotation cleans the textiles contained in the cylinder. After this cleaning has been accomplished, an important percentage of the detergent will remain within the textiles. Inasmuch asthe detergent is expensive and also since its vapors are generally deleterious to humans, it is very important that this detergent be removed. The process of efiectuating such recovery is termed reclaiming. Since the reclaiming operation must take place before one load of textiles can be removed from the cylinder and replaced with another, the total time required for each complete cycle will be directly proportional to the time'required in carrying out the reclaiming operation.

It is a major object of the present invention to provide dry cleaning apparatus incorporating a novel reclaiming system which is faster in operation than the reclaiming systems theretofore proposed.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved reclaiming system for dry cleaning apparatus utilizing a detergent which in its vapor phase is heavier than air.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a reclaiming system for dry cleaning apparatus which is capable of reclaimin a very high percentage of the detergent contained in the textile-holding cylinder thereof.

An additional object of the present invention is to. provide a dry cleaning apparatus which is simple of design and rugged of construction, whereby it may have a long and trouble-free service life.

In the ordinary dry cleaning apparatus, the detergent reclaiming operation is carried out at a high temperature; hence, at the completion of a dry cleaning operation the contents of the textile-holding cylinder may retain sufficient heat to endanger the person who removes such contents from the cylinder. Additionally, if the textiles removed from the textile-holding cylinder are at a high temperature when removed therefrom, they tend to become easily wrinkled.

It is yet further intention of the present invention to provide dry cleaning apparatus incorporating unique and extremely simple means for cooling the contents of its textile-holdin cylinder after each reclaiming operation.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a preferred form of dry cleaning apparatus embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevational view showing a detail of the apparatus disclosed in Figures 1 and 2; and,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view taken along lines 44 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings, the preferred form of dry cleaning apparatus utilizing a reclaiming system embodying the present invention will include a substantially airtight housing H) wherein is rotatably mounted a perforate textile-holding cylinder I2 adapted to be rotated about a horizontal axis, as by a motor I4. The lower portion of the housin If] may define a reservoir It for a body of detergent I 3, which detergent is adapted to be forcefully circulated through the interior of the cylinder l2 during the cleaning operation by suitablemeans (not shown). At the completion of the cleaning operation, the reclaiming operation takes place. This latter operation utilizes a fan means 20 adapted to effect a forced draft within a passage 22 interconnecting opposite sides of the cylinder 12, as indicated by the directional arrows in Figure 1. Disposed within the passage 22 is a means 24 adapted to heat the fluid passing into one side of the cylinder so as to effect a change of the detergent contained by the textiles (not shown) therewithin from its liquid to its vapor phase. Also disposed within the passage 22 is a cooling means 28 adapted to effect condensation of the detergent vaporized by the heatin means 24. The detergent so condensed is returned to the reservoir 16. Orifice means 30 is also disposed within the passage 22 for reasons to be set forth hereinafter.

. More particularly, the housing I0 may be rectangular in shape and enclosed in its left side are suitable pump means for forcefully circulating 3 detergent through the textile-holding cylinder [2 as the latter is being rotated by the electric motor M. The electric motor I4 is shown connected to the cylinder by an endless belt 32 having engagement with a pulley 34 carried by a supporting shaft 36. The preferred form of cylinder I2 is formed with a plurality of apertures 38 around its periphery, which apertures permit the free passage of detergent therethrough. Additionally, the preferred formof cylinder is provided with a door 39 at its end opposite the pulley 34, which door permits access thereinto for inserting and removing the textiles. The bottom of the cylinder is shown connected to the reservoir [6 by a drain pipe 40 wherein is mounted a dump valve 4|.

The cylinder I2 is seen to be substantially encompassed by an upper shield 32 and a lower shield 44, which shields may conveniently be formed of sheet metal. The vertical spaces separating the shields are seen to define an axially extending elongated inlet openin 46 at one side of thecylinder, and a similar outlet opening t8 opposite the inlet opening. The inlet and outlet openingslie at opposite ends of the passage 22 and are interconnected thereby. This passage may be defined by the=upper shield 62, a partition wall 50, and housing cover 52, the end wall 3 of the housing and the lower shield 44.

The fan means 20' may conveniently comprise a suitable axial fiow'type' fan 55 which is driven by an electric motor 56. The heating means 2 5 may consist of a plurality of horizontally disposed coils 58, which coils are interconnected by a number of vertical fins 65]. Steam or other heated fluid is adapted to be circulated through the coils 58 whereby the latter will be heated. The cooling means, or condenser 28, will preferably be similar in construction to the heater 24. However, a cooling medium, such as cold water, isadapted to be circulated therethrough. A collecting tray 62 is shown mounted below the condenser 23, which tray is connected to the reservoir lfibya pipe.

The orifice means 30 will preferably be interposed between the heating means 24 and the condenser 28, and comprises a vertical plate E5 wherein is formed an orifice 68. The size of the orifice 68 is adapted to be varied by means of a gate element movably mounted by the plate 66.

In operation, the textiles in the cylinder ii are first cleaned in the manner described hereinbefore; Thereafter, the fan means 25? is actuated whereby circulation of the vaporized detergent and any air remaining within the cylinder 52 and the passage 22 is caused to occur, as indicated by the directional arrows in Figure 1. Steam is admitted to the heater 2 while cold water is forced through the condenser 28. As a result, the fluid forced through the heater 2 will be heated before it enters the inlet openin it. The heated fluid will vaporize the liquid detergent contained in the textiles, which vaporized deter gent will be forced out of the opposite side of the cylinder, through the outlet opening .8, and into the left side of the passage 22. The vaporized detergent will then be drawn upwardly past the fan means 2c and through the condenser 23. Exposure of the vaporized detergent to the cold surfaces of the condenser will cause the major portion thereof to becondensed and fall into the collecting tray 62, from which tray it will be transferred shpipe 64 to the reservoir H3.

The portion of .the vaporized detergent which is not condensed by the condenser 28 will pass through the orifice 68 and enter the confines of the heater 24. Exposure of the vaporized detergent to the heated surface thereof will raise its temperature, as well as the temperature of the air with which it is mixed, several degrees. As stated previously, this heated fiuid is then forced through the inlet opening 46 and into the cylinder l2, whereby it may effect the vaporization of the liquid detergent remaining in the textiles. Preferably, the cylinder l2 will be caused to undergo rotation during this operation, so as to constantly expose different surfaces of the textiles to the heated fluid. It has been found especially effective to cause the direction of rotation of the cylinder to reverse periodically.

It should. be particularly noted that the positioning of the orifice means between the condenser 28 and the heater 24 greatly reduces the time required to reclaim the liquid detergent contained by thetextiles- This is true because such positioning reduces the velocity of the combined air and vaporized detergent mixture being forced throughthe passage 22 on the inlet (or left in the drawings) side of the orifice means. As a result,

the density of this mixture will be appreciably greater on the inlet side of the orifice means than on the discharge (or right in the drawings) side thereof.

the vaporized detergent within the condenser.

Despite the fact that the velocity of flow of the heated mixture is reduced adjacent the condenser, the volume of the mixture being forced through he passage 22 is not reduced by the provision of the orifice means 30. because of the positioning of the orifice means before the heater 24, the velocity of the heated mixture entering the cylinder l2 through the inlet opening at will be increased as compared to the velocity it would have in the absence of an orifice means. Such increased velocity aids this mixture in penetrating the textiles so as to eifect the rapid vaporization of the liquid detergent remaining therein.

After the desired quantity of detergent has been recovered, the textilesmay be removed from within the cylinder l2. It will be apparent, however, that these textiles, as well as the elements of the apparatus adjacent thereto, will exist at a high temperature, whereby the person eifecting such removal is liable to receive annoying, if not injurious, burns. Additionally, such textiles, being heated, will tend to be easily wrinkled after such removal so as to requir extensive pressing.

Referring now to Figure 3, these disadvantages can be eliminated by the. provisions of means for admitting outside air into the cylmder after the detergent has been recovered, but before the textiles are removed. 7

The preferred manner of admitting outsidev air utilizes an opening 8i] formed in one side wall 82 of the housing l0, and a removable cover 84 therefor. It will be observed that theopening is formed between the discharge side of the orifice t8 and the. inlet 46. This is necessary since it is contemplated that the pressure at this point will exist at less than atmospheric pressure, while the pressure on the inletv side of the orifice 68 will be higher than atmospheric pressure. Before the cover 84 is removed, the flow of steam to the heater should be out OE and preferably replaced with a flow of cold water. The fan means20 is then placed in operation. With the cover 84 thus removed, the flow of cool air may pass through I Such increased density and decrease in velocity accelerates the rate of condensation of Furthermore, I

, the cylinder l2 and its contents. After a short cause the outlet opening 48 is located adjacent the lower portion of the cylinder I2. Since the detergent vaporized within the cylinder is heavier than air, its vapors will collect at the bottom portion of the cylinder, from which point they may be readily drawn through the outlet openmg.

While there 'has been shown and described hereinbefore what is at present considered to be the preferred form of the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

Dry cleaning apparatus for use with a volatile detergent, comprising: a generally rectangular substantially air-tight housing; a perforated textile-holding cylinder mounted within said housing for rotation about a horizontal axis; a semi-circular upper shield and a semi-circular lower shield, said shields beingseparated and their adjoining edges defining diametrically spaced inlet and outlet openings at the upper and lower portions, respectively, of said cylinder; a

vertical passage in said housing adjacent said cylinder and extending upwardly from said outlet; a condenser disposed adjacent the upper portion of said vertical passage and above said cylinder; a collecting tray below said condenser forremoving condensate formed thereby; a heating coil horizontally spaced from said condenser so as to define a horizontal passage therebetween; a downwardly extending vertical passage connecting said heating coil and said inlet; fan means disposed in said first mentioned vertical passage for effecting fluid circulation through said passages, cylinder, heating coil and condenser; an opening formed in said housing permitting communication between said second-mentioned vertical passage and the atmosphere; a removable cover for said opening; a vertical plate extending through an intermediate portion of said horizontal passage; and an orifice opening formed in said plate for reducing the fluid velocity between said condenser and said orific without substantially reducing the fluid velocity on the opposite side of said orifice.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Dinley Jan. 30, 1951 

